In an earlier post, I described the journey of the Maul, Sinner and Hamburger families from Russia to Nebraska (A Sinner, a Hamburger and a Tsarina). These “Volga Germans,” even after centuries living in Russia, never lost their German identity. This post is a story of love, of childhood sweethearts, together again in a later chapter of their lives. Heinrich “Henry” Jacob Maul Sr. was born in 1863 in Norka, Russia and in 1885 he married Elisabeth “Lizzie” Sinner. They had five children together. In 1924, Lizzie passed away.
A New Love – On March 8, 1926, in Weatherford, Oklahoma, Henry married Katherine (Pfeif) Seigfried. The details of his courtship and special connection to Katherine is described in a wonderful newspaper article (below) about their marriage along with their marriage certificate. In the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census’, Henry is listed as working for the City of Hastings as a common laborer. Henry died in June 1947 at the age of 83, and was buried in Hastings, Nebraska.
Katherine Pfeif was born in 1863 in Frank, Saratov, Russia. She married there in 1860 to Jacob Seigfried and immigrated to America in 1887. Katherine and Jacob had 10 children. Jacob died in 1909 in Oklahoma and Katherine was a widow for 17 years until Henry came along. The article mentions Katherine’s sister, Margaretha Sitzman, who lived in Hastings, NE. Sadly, I have found no record of Katherine passed after the 1930 Census, in 1940, Henry is listed as widowed.
Special thanks to Henry’s 2nd great granddaughter, Michele, for her input on this post!
Comments, corrections and suggestions appreciated.
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